Three years ago, their lives were a “lost cause.” Lester and Stephanie Herrera were addicted to meth and heroin, got caught robbing a store and were headed to jail — that’s when everything changed.

After Stephanie got out of jail, she began to look for a place to stay. She got a phone call from Lester (who was still in jail) saying something she had never heard in their 15 years of marriage, “You should ask God for help. I really think you need to pray.” 

Romney, Trump and other politicians react to police beating of Tyre Nichols

In the days following the release of the footage of the fatal beating of Tyre Nichols, many politicians, including those with connections to Utah as well as former Pres. Donald Trump, responded on social media.

What they said:

• Former Pres. Donald Trump called the footage “horrific” and told The Associated Press the attack “never should have happened.”
• Pres. Joe Biden called for peaceful protest in a statement and also said it was “yet another painful reminder of the profound fear and trauma, the pain, and exhaustion that Black and Brown Americans experience every single day.”
• Sen. Mitt Romney wrote on Twitter: “I have read descriptions of the brutal beating. Ann and I cannot yet bring ourselves to watch the video. We are heartsick and we ache with sorrow for Tyre’s family and loved ones.”
• Rep. Burgess Owens quote-tweeted Sen. Marsha Blackburn, saying, “My family and I are praying for Tyre Nichols’ family and loved ones.”

Read the full story here.

FROM OUR SPONSOR UTAH BUSINESS

30 Women to Watch: Submit Your Nomination Now

Utah Business magazine is honoring women who are on their way to truly amazing things. These are our state’s next legislators, CEOs, entrepreneurs, authors and arrivistes — and they’re all congregating in Spring 2023. Nominations close Feb. 10. Submit your nomination now.

Technology:

• Should cell phones be banned in Utah classrooms? (Deseret News) 🐝
• Surgeon General says 13 is ‘too early’ to join social media (CNN)

Education:

• This bill would let home-schooled, online students play prep sports outside their boundary school (Deseret News) 🐝

Police and The Courts:

• Perspective: What happened to Tyre Nichols was not about race. It was about police brutality (Deseret News)
• Utah State Bar issues memo opposing resolution to end hold on state's abortion ban (KSL) 🐝

Health:

• Perspective: A future for me and not for thee — the hubris of transhumanism (Deseret News)

Culture:

• Weird roadside attractions to visit when driving in the West (Deseret News)
• Stanley cup dupes you can buy on Amazon (Deseret News)

Economy:

• Opinion: Need help filing your taxes? This tax clinic will do it for free (Deseret News)

Environment:

• Perspective: Winters are changing. It’s time to work together on climate change (Deseret News)
• Bill that would publicize how much water golf courses use meets opposition (Great Salt Lake Collaborative) 🐝
• With Covid subsiding, air pollution is back (Utah Business)

Faith:

• The National Prayer Breakfast will look different this year. Here’s how (Deseret News)
• Perspective: Countercultural joy — the paradox of Christian faith growing in trial (Deseret News)
• Perspective: Mass media as a force for human fraternity (Deseret News)

Wasatch Front:

• South Jordan woman sentenced to 5 years of probation in shooting death of estranged husband (KSL)
• Protesters gather in Salt Lake City in response to Tyre Nichols police bodycam video release (FOX13)

Southern Utah:

• SLC man drowns in Meadow Hot Springs (ABC4)

The Nation:

• 3 dead, 4 wounded in California shooting near Beverly Hills (Deseret News)

The World:

• US requests forces in South Korea provide equipment to Ukraine (The Hill)

Sports:

• BYU basketball: January was a rough month for BYU basketball. Will February be any better? (Deseret News)
• Utah basketball: Oregon loss showed Runnin’ Utes don’t have a big margin for error (Deseret News)
• Wild West meets ski racing in Skijoring Utah competition (KSL)